Quote:
Originally Posted by Matty81
Nobody watches when the sunbelt teams play outside of the markets involved. The Dallas tbay series last year had the lowest tv ratings in a long long time. And it's not just in canada. Even in the northern US traditional hockey markets there it was the same story and fans find other things to do. I hated seeing some random southern us team come to town when I had flames tickets.... you just don't care as much unless they have a huge star. And it's harder to sell the tickets even compared to a Canadian team or a traditional US northern market like the hawks, wings, ranger, bruins, flyers, etc even when those teams are crappy on ice.
Tampa mgmt has built a fantastic team, think they are gonna win, kudos to them but i still hate sunbelt teams and think they are bad for long term viability of the sport and I find it kinda tragic watching a team with 80,000 fans clobber a market where 2 million people would be out in the streets after a win.
I think the nhl should have focused on maintaining the fanbase in cities where people grow up loving the game and not expanded into the southern us. Other engwrtainment is moving in when hockey isn't compelling, youth hockey enrollment in canada has been flat or declining relative to overall population for 20 years now and eventually will come home to roost in tv and ticket #s when coupled with rising ticket prices imo. Winning in those sunbelt markets has an opportunity cost.
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Have you experienced minor hockey in the Sunbelt? I been in the US for 4 years, and I am definitely a hockey snob. Having 2 kids playing travel hockey here, I’ve been to 15+ tournaments in non-traditional markets.
I can tell you, the parents are pretty clueless about the game, but the passion is the same. The teams we play love the game as much as we do.
On the flip side, Colorado has 3 Div 1 programs, and as many kids playing minor hockey as Alberta. So, lots of hockey, but outside of my kids hockey social group, nobody cares about the Avs. Is CO worthy?
Also, of the 10 or so long time Avs season tx holders I know, 0 of them ever played hockey. Are they worthy?